Rolling center bolster



July 29, 1941.

E. H. PlRON I 2,250,650

ROLLING CENTER BOLSTER Filed Dec. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

July 29, 1941. E. H. PIRON 2,250,650

ROLLING CENTER BOLSTER Filed Dec. 15. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Err/7 p/rol? ATTORNEY.

Patented July 29, 1941 ROLLING CENTER BOLSTER Emil H. Piron, \Tew York, N."Y., assignor to Transit Research Corporation, a corporation of New York Application December 13, 1939, Serial No. 309,057

I 18 Claims.

This invention relates to truck bolsters such.

as are used in conjunction with rail vehicles for mounting thecar body on the trucks thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rolling bolster or, in other words, a bolster having its opposite ends supported by rollers for lateral movement relative to the direction of travel of the truck upon which it is mounted. More specifically, the object is to provide rolling supporting means for the bolster which causes inclination of the bolster as it shifts laterally. In this respect the bolster and its supporting means are so designed that the weight of a car body on the bolster moves the bolster to a position where it supports the car body in a'vertical-position. When centrifugal forcetends to move the car body outwardly, as is thecase when the vehicletravels around a curve, the bolster is caused to move laterally outwardly with respect to the truck and with respect to the curve. As the bolster moves laterally outwardly it is inclined in a manner such that it tilts the car body inwardly to counteract the centrifugal force.

Another object is to design the rolling supporting means in such manner that as the bolster and car body shifts in the presence ofcentrifugal forces, such as above mentioned, the edge .ofthecar body nearest the center of the curve is caused to lower, while the edge of the car body remote from the center of the curve is caused to elevate.

vAnother object is to provide gear means in conjunction with the rolling supporting means for maintaining the rolling supporting means in proper operative relationship.

Another objectis to construct the rolling supporting means in such manner that endwise or axial shifting thereof is prevented. This means is designed totransmit collision, acceleration and braking thrusts between the-car body-and truck.

Another object is to provide a truck bolster having its rolling supporting means protected by a hermetically sealed enclosure, which protects it from dust, foreign matters etc., and, therefore,- prolongs the useful life thereof.

Another object is to provide means of the character above mentioned embodying means for efficiently lubricating the-same. In this respect the inclosure above mentioned is utilized as an oil reservoir, and oil pumping means is provided for pumping the oil to the parts to be lubricated. In-this respect it is a further object to provide pumping means which is actuated by lateral motions of the bolster.

ing lateral motion of the bolster and, more specifically, to utilize the lubricant pumping means for this purpose.

Other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent as reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein my invention is illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the bolster,

Fig. 2 is avertical section of the rollingsupport at one end of the bolster,

Fig..3-is a section takenon the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, I

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line i l of Fig. 3, and

Fig. '5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.2.

More particularly, l designates a bolster having itsopposite ends supported within housings 2 by means hereinafter described. The housings 2 are adapted to be mounted on any conventional or special rail vehicle truck in any suitablemanner, and the bolster i has a pedestal 3 upon which any'conventional or special car body may be mounted. The mounting of the bolster onthe truck and the mounting of the car body on the bolster formno essential part of the invention and. it is deemed unnecessary, therefore, to illustratethe same here.

The two ends'of the'bolster and their supports are identical, and as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 to-5, each end is formed. with laterally extending- U-shaped or trough-like extensions 4 and with an axial h0le'5. Welded to the bottomof the extensions 4 are roller tracks 6 which, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4, are secured by plug welds I in such manner that the major portionsof the adjacent surfaces of the extensions and track member are in spaced relation. The extensions 4 and the track 6 are both provided with ports 8 through which lubricant may flow as hereinafter described.

The track member 6 rests upon a roller 9 which has a-groove Ill-intermediate its ends and gear teeth I! on its ends. The track member 5 has rackteeth l2 with which the gear teeth ll mesh and is formed with a projecting rib [3 which fits into the groove Ill in the roller. The intermeshing teeth H and I2 function to maintain the track member 6 and roller 9 in proper relationship as relative movement takes place therebetween and the rib l3 and groove l0 function to prevent relative displacement of the track member and roller axially.

The roller 9 rests upo n-atrack member [4, secured to the bottom of the housing 2. The track member 14 has rack teeth [5 meshing with the gear teeth I l of the roller and also a rib I6 fitting into the groove In of the roller. The rack teeth 15 maintain the roller 9 in proper position for correct rolling with respect to the housing 2 and the rib It acts to prevent axial movement of the roller relative to the housing.

Reference to Fig. 2 indicates that the two track members 6 and M are curved as viewed in cross section. The center of curvature of the track member 6 is in a horizontal plane a substantial distance below the roller 9 and in a vertical plane located outwardly of the plane of the center of the roller when the latter is in the normal position shown with the result that the surface contacted by the roller curves: downwardly and inwardly with respect to the length of the bolster. The center of curvature of the surface of the track member i4 is located in a horizontal plane located a substantial distance above the center of the roller 9 and in a vertical plane located inwardly from the vertical plane of the center of the roller when the latter is in the normal position shown, with the result that the surface with which the roller 9 contacts curves inwardly and downwardly.

Due to the presence of the curved contact surfaces on the track members 5 and I4 the end of the bolster l, shown in Fig. 2, is caused to elevate as it moves in the left hand or outward direction and to lower when moved in the right hand or inward direction. When two rolling supports of this type are used with one at each end of the bolster movement of the bolster causes one end to elevate and the other to lower, thereby inclining the bolster and tilting the car body (not shown) supported thereby. Obviously the curvature of the track members may be varied to suit various different types of vehicles and different conditions of operation.

Mounted in the hole 5 in the end of the bolster I is a cylinder I! having a plunger 3 mounted in the chamber Ila therein and sealed with re spect to the cylinder by a cap l9 and seal 20. The plunger I8 is normally forced outwardly of the cylinder IT by a spring 2! which functions to maintain the spherical end 18a of the plunger in contact with an arcuately concave surface 22 on a stop block 23 secured to the cover 24 of the housing 2.

The chamber Ila has an elongate intake port 25 connected through a port 26 and a check Valve 21 to a pipe 28 which extends downwardly to a point beneath the normal level 29 of lubricating oil within the housing 2. The chamber Ha also has an outlet port 3%) controlled by a check valve 3|, and which communicates with a hollow plug 32 mounted in the end of the bolster l and having an outlet orifice 33 of predetermined diameter. I

As the bolster moves laterally of its supporting truck during operation of a rail vehicle the plunger I3 is caused to reciprocate in the chamber Ila and alternately draws lubricating oil into the chamber and expels it. The orifice 33 is made of such size that it causes a predetermined back pressure on the lubricant being expelled from the chamber, and this back pressure exerts a damping influence opposing lateral movement of the bolster in one direction. With a unit such as above described at each end of the bolster, with the two opposing each other, adamping influence is exerted in both directions.

It is to be noted that the outlet orifice 33 is lubricant discharged therefrom is collected in the trough-like extensions and distributed through the apertures 8 to the tracks and roller.

A rubber bellows 34 has one end connected to the housing 2, surrounding the end of the bolster which extends thereinto. The bellows is free from canvas in order that it may be stretched over the lateral projections 4 on the end of the bolster.

As may be seen in Figs. 3 and 4 the ends of the extensions 4 are formed with curved walls 35 which are disposed beneath stop members or projections 36 on the cover 24 of the housing. In the presence of forces tending to separate the track members from the rollers the stops 36 restrict any movement resulting from such tendencies to an extent such that it is impossible for the gear teeth II and rack teeth I2 and [5 to move out of mesh.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A bolster assembly comprising two housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, rollers disposed between the ends of said bolster and the housings in which said ends are received and supporting the bolster for movement relative to the housings, said housings being adapted to contain lubricant, and means operated by movement of the bolster for pumping lubricant onto the rollers and the surfaces contacted thereby.

2. A bolster assembly comprising two housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, rollers disposed between the ends of said bolster and the housings in which said ends are received and supporting the bolster for movement relative to the housings, said housings containing a fluid, and means actuated by movement of the bolster for forcing said fluid through a restricted opening whereby the movements of said bolster are damped.

3. A bolster assembly comprising two housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, rollers disposed between the ends of said bolster and the housings in which said ends are received and supporting the bolster for movement relative to the housings, said housings containing a lubricant, and pump means actuated by movement of the bolster for forcing said lubricant through restricted openings and onto said rollers whereby the movements of said bolster are damped while lubricating said rollers.

4. A bolster assembly comprising two housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, rollers disposed between the ends of said bolster and the housings in which said ends are received and supporting the bolster for movement relative to the housings, each end of said bolster having a pump chamber with lubricant inlet and outlet ports, a plunger in each chamber, means for reciprocating said plunger incident to movement of said bolster in opposite directions, means for conlocated above the lateral extensions 4, and the veying lubricant from the bottom of respective housings to respective inletports, and :.means for conveying lubricant from respective outlet ports to the relatively moving parts of the assembly.

5. A bolster assembly comprising twohousings adapted to be mounted at oppositesides of arail vehicle truck, a bolster'having its oppositeiends extending into respective housings, means disposed between the ends of said bolster and the housings in which said ends are received and supporting the bolster vfor movement relative to the housings, and a combinedlubricating and motion damping means rendered operative by movement of said bolster for damping movement thereof and also for lubricating the means which supports the bolster.

6. A bolster assembly comprising two housing-s adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of arail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite'ends extending into respective housings, means disposed between the ends of said bolster and the housings in which said ends are received and supporting the bolster for movement-relative to the housings, and means rendered operative by movement of said bolster for damping movement thereof and also for lubricating said bolster supporting means, said last named meanscomprising 'an'oil pump in each housing and operatediby movement of the bolster, each pumphaving a restricted orifice causingsuflicient back pressure on the oil pumped thereby that said pump acts as a motion damping means.

'7. A bolster assembly comprising two housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a 'bolster'having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, rollers-disposed between the'ends of said'bolster andthe housings in which said ends are received and supporting the bolster for movement relative to the housings, each end of'said bolster having a pump chamber with lubricant inlet and outlet ports, a plunger in each chamber, means -for-reciprocating said plunger incident to movement of said-bolster in opposite directions, and means for creatingback pressure on the lubricant pumped whereby such back pressure opposes movement 5 i of the'bolster.

8. A bolster assembly'comprisingtwo lubricant housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster havingits op posite ends extending into respective housings, each end of said bolsterhaving lateral extensions, track members secured beneath sai'dextensions, a track member secured in the bottom of each housing, both track members in each housing having an upstanding rib between their ends and rack teeth at their ends, and a roller between each pair of track members, said roller having a circumferential groove between-its ends for reception of the ribs on the track members and also having gear teeth on its ends meshing with the rack teeth at opposite ends of the track members.

9. A bolster assembly comprising two lubricant housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, each end of said bolster having lateralextensions, track members secured beneath said extensions, a track member secured in the bottom of each housing, both track members in each housing having an upstanding'rib between their ends and rack teeth at their ends, and a roller between each pair of track members, said roller having a circumferential groove between'its ends for reception of the ribs on the track members and also having, gear teeth on ;its sends meshing with the rack teeth at opposite ends of the track members, and abutments in said housing over- :lying the ends of said ilateral extensions, .said vabutments Lbeing spaced from the extensionsv a distance less than the length of the gear and racklteeth.

.10. A bolster :assembly comprising two lubricant. housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of arail vehicletruck, a bolster having its :oppositeends extendingzinto.respective housings,

each end of said bolster having laterally extending trough like extensions adapted to serve .as

lubricant collectors, .a "track member securedv beneath said extensions, both the'lateral extension and saidtrack.memberhavingrports for conveying lubricantfromthe trough-like projections to the track membeIp-a track member secured in .the bottom of each.housing,':both.track members .in .each housing having an upstanding rib between their ;ends and rack teeth at their ends, and a rollerbetween each pair of track members,

-said;roller having a circumferential groove between its ends for reception of the ribs on said :trackmembers and also having'gear teeth on its theltrack member, a track member secured in;

the bottom of each housing, both track members in each housing "having an upstanding rib between their ends andrack teeth at their ends, a roller .betweeneach pair-of track members, said roller having a circumferential groove between its ends for reception of the ribs on said track members and also having gear teeth on its ends meshing with rack teeth on the 'track'members, and abutments in said housing overlying the ends of saidlateral extensions, said abutments being spaced from the-extensions a distance less than the'length of the gear and rack teeth.

12. A bolster assembly comprising two lubricant housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its oppositeends extending into respective housings, each end of said bolster having laterally extending trough-like extensions adapted to serve as lubricant-collectors, a track member secured beneath-said extensions, both the lateralextensions and said track-member having ports for conveying lubricant from the trough-like projections to the track member, a track member secured in the'bottom of each housing, both track members in each housing having an upstanding rib between their ends and'rack tee-that their ends, a roller betweeneach pair of track members, said roller having a circumferential groove between its ends for reception of the ribs-0n said-track members and also having gear teeth on its ends meshing with rack teeth on the track members, pump means actuated by the bolster during normal swinging movements for forcing-the collected-lubricant over the various moving parts in said housings, and means between said pump means and said movingparts for restrictingtheiflow of lubricant to create .-a :back pressure opposing op jections to the track member, a track member secured in the bottom of each housing, both track members in each housing having an upstanding rib between their ends and rack teeth at their ends, a roller between each pair of track members, said roller having a circumferential groove between its ends for reception of the ribs on said track members and also having gear teeth on its ends meshing with rack teeth on the track members, pump means actuated by the bolster during normal swinging movements for forcing the collected lubricant over the various moving parts in said housings, means between said pump means and said moving parts for restricting the flow of lubricant to create a back pressure opposing operation of the pumping means so that said pumping means opposes movement of the bolster, and means for restricting the flow of lubricant to create a back pressure opposing operation of the pumping means so that said pumping means opposes movement of the bolster.

14. A bolster assembly comprising two housings adapted to contain a lubricant and adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, means in said housings supporting said bolster for movement relative to the housings, each end of said bolster having a pump cylinder therein, a plunger in each cylinder, yielding means urging the plungers outwardly of their cylinders and maintaining the outer ends of the plungers in contact with walls of respective housings, each plunger being adapted to be moved inwardly of its cylinder upon movement of the bolster in one direction relative to its respective housing and adapted to be moved outwardly of its cylinder by the yielding means upon relative movement in the opposite direction, each cylinder having a check-valve controlled inlet with a conduit extending below the normal lubricant level in its respective housing, and each cylinder having a check valve controlled outlet for supplying lubricant to the means for supporting the bolster.

15. A bolster assembly comprising two housings adapted to contain a lubricant and adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, means in said housings supporting said bolster for movement relative to the housings, each end of said bolster having a pump cylinder therein, a plunger in each cylinder, yielding means urging the plungers outwardly of their cylinders and maintaining the outer ends of the plungers in contact with walls of respective housings, each plunger being adapted to be moved inwardly of its cylinder upon movement of the bolster in one direction relative to its respective housing and adapted to be moved outwardly of its cylinder by the yielding means upon relative movement in the opposite direction, each cylinder having a check-valve controlled inlet with a conduit extending below the normal lubricant level in its respective housing, each cylinder having a check valve controlled outlet for supplying lubricant to the means for supporting the bolster, and means for restricting the outlet of each cylinder to create a back pressure on the lubricant pumped sufiicient to damp movements of said bolster.

16. A bolster assembly comprising two housings adapted to contain a lubricant and adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, means in said housings supporting said bolster for movement relative to the housings, each end of said bolster having a pump cylinder therein, a plunger in each cylinder, each housing having a removable cover, an abutment member depending from each cover, yielding means urging the plungers outwardly of their cylinders and maintaining their outer ends in contact with respective abutment members, each plunger being adapted to be moved inwardly of its cylinder upon movement of the bolster in one direction relative to its respective housing and adapted to be moved outwardly of its cylinder by the yielding means upon relative movement in the opposite direction, each cylinder having a check-valve controlled inlet with a conduit extending below the normal lubricant level in its respective housing, and each cylinder having a check valve controlled outlet for supplying lubricant to the means for supporting the bolster.

1'7. A bolster assembly comprising two lubricant housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, each end of said bolster having laterally extending trough-like extensions adapted to serve as lubricant collectors, a track member secured beneath said extensions, both the lateral extensions and said track member having ports for conveying lubricant from the trough-like projections to the track member, a track member secured in the bottom of each housing, both tracx members in each housing having an upstanding rib between their ends and rack teeth at their ends, a roller between each pair of track members, said roller having a circumferential groove between its ends for reception of the ribs on said track members and also having gear teeth on its ends meshing with rack teeth on the track members, abutments in said housing overlying the ends of said lateral extensions, said abutments being spaced from the extensions a distance less than the length of the gear and rack teeth, and means in each housing operated by movement of the bolster relative to the housing for pumping lubricant to said trough-like extensions, said last named means comprising a cylinder in each end of the bolster, a plunger in each cylinder, yielding means urging the plungers outwardly of their cylinders and maintaining the outer ends of the plungers in contact with walls of respective housings, each plunger being adapted to be moved inwardly of its cylinder upon movement of the bolster in one direction relative to its respective housing and adapted to be moved outwardly of its cylinder by the yielding means upon relative movement in the opposite direction, each cylinder having a check-valve controlled inlet with a conduit extending below the normal lubricant level in its respective housing, and each cylinder having a check-valve controlled outlet for supplying lubricant to the means for supporting the bolster.

18. A bolster assembly comprising two lubricant housings adapted to be mounted at opposite sides of a rail vehicle truck, a bolster having its opposite ends extending into respective housings, each end of said bolster having laterally extending trough-like extensions adapted to serve as lubricant collectors, a track member secured beneath said extensions, both the lateral extensions and said track member having ports for conveying lubricant from the trough-like projections to the track member, a track member secured in the bottom of each housing, both track members in each housing having an upstanding rib between their ends and rack teeth at their ends, a roller between each pair of track members, said roller having a circumferential groove between its ends for reception of the ribs on said track members and also having gear teeth on its ends meshing with rack teeth on the track members, abutments in said housing overlying the ends of said lateral extensions, said abutments being spaced from the extensions a distance less than the length of the gear and rack teeth, and means in each housing operated by movement of the cylinders and maintaining the outer ends of the plungers in contact with walls of respective housings, each plunger being adapted to be moved inwardly of its cylinder upon movement of the bolster in one direction relative to its respective housing and adapted to be moved outwardly of its cylinder by the yielding means upon relative movement in the opposite direction, each cylinder having a check valve controlled inlet with a conduit extending below the normal lubricant level in its respective housing, each cylinder having a check valve controlled outlet for supplying lubricant to the means for supporting the bolster, and means for restricting the outlet of each cylinder to create a back pressure on the lubricant pumped suflicient to damp movements of said bolster.

g EMIL H. PIRON. 

